Catholic Schools Youth Ministry Australia (CSYMA) has enabled four students from St John Paul II College, Nicholls and Carroll College, Broulee to immerse themselves into a deep cultural exchange with Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory.

This is the seventh year that students have been invited to Daly River and the Tiwi Islands for Youth Ministry. The unique experience was initiated with a moving welcoming ritual in the Daly River to awaken inner spirit and form an immediate bond with the people and the land.

Year 10 Carroll College student Jorja Scott said that sharing in the wisdom of Daly River Aboriginal elder Miriam Rose was an unforgettable highlight from the trip.

“Miriam has inspired me to continue journeying through faith and has made me aspire to have a deeper connection with the Indigenous people of my local community,” she said.

“This experience as a whole has showed me how to talk to God and to understand that he is always there and loves me no matter what.”

Jorja’s classmate Liarna Miller said that it was a life changing journey filled with meaningful conversation and new perspective intensified by the joy from serving others.

“One of my best memories was camping at Daly River where we lay under the stars immersed in rich culture and faith, praying, laughing and sharing stories together,” she said.

“Since then I want to better understand my own faith, aspire to be a better person, and take on the attitude of those I met on the trip,” she said.

Catholic Education Project Officer Nathan Galea said that the students were outstanding in their leadership and ability to share their faith through the Youth Ministry retreat.

“It was truly inspiring to watch the youth from our Archdiocese be true witnesses of faith,” he said.

“Pope Francis encouraged young people to ‘build bridges not walls’, to be ‘courageous and free’, and that is exactly what these fine young people did for the entire time,”

“They were open to their faith, to each other and to all those they met.”

The Youth Ministry trip empowered the students to grow personally and spiritually, participate in the life of the Church through mission and be able to express hope for a better future for all.

A number of Indigenous leaders will be running and participating in a stream of Youth Ministry for Indigenous leaders within our Archdiocese at the Youth Ministry Equipping School in February and March 2019.